Placement Testing Information

If you are a first-time-in-college degree-seeking student entering a college credit
program, you are required to take some form of basic placement testing in English,
reading and mathematics. You may meet this requirement in several ways:

ACT or SAT scores may be used for placement provided that the scores are less than
two years old and they meet state-mandated minimum score levels, Test Score Worksheet .

If ACT or SAT scores are lower than the state-mandated minimum scores, you may take
the College Placement Test (CPT), which is also called the Postsecondary Readiness
Test (PERT).

If you transfer college-level mathematics credit and/or college-level English composition
credit to Gulf Coast State College, you have completed the testing requirement in
that specific discipline and must test only in the area(s) in which you are deficient.
If you are a transfer student, you must have your transcripts evaluated by the Transcript
Coordinator to determine if you are required to take any of the tests. College-level
English composition credit supersedes the need for placement in reading.

Traditional Placement

If you entered the 9th grade in a Florida public school prior to 2003–2004, graduated
from a non-public Florida high school or earned the GED, you qualify for Traditional Placement in English, reading and mathematics. Traditional Placement requires that you submit
active scores on a college placement test (CPT/PERT, SAT or ACT) to Gulf Coast State
College in order to assist academic advisors in determining your readiness for college-level
English, reading and mathematics.

Flexible Placement

If you entered the 9th grade in a Florida public school in 2003–2004 or later and
earned a standard Florida high school diploma from a Florida public high school or
are serving as active-duty members of the United States Armed Services, you qualify
for Flexible Placement. Flexible Placement indicates that you are not required to
be tested or to enroll in developmental education. You may opt into developmental
education if you deem it appropriate after consulting with your academic advisor.

Current Gulf Coast State College applicants, students and dual enrolling high school
students may test at the Gulf Coast State College Testing Center.

If you are a Gulf Coast State College applicant who resides in Bay, Franklin or Gulf
County, you may take the CPT/PERT at one of Gulf Coast State College's satellite campuses:
Gulf/Franklin campus or North Bay campus

If you are a Gulf Coast State College applicant who resides outside of Bay, Franklin
or Gulf County, you may request to take the CPT/PERT at an off-campus location by
completing the CPT/PERT proctor request form.

A $5.00 fee must be paid at the Gulf Coast State College Bookstore or Business Office
before you take the CPT/PERT. If you are a public high school student who is testing
for the Dual Enrollment Program, you are exempt from the required $5.00 fee, but you
must bring a current Dual Enrollment Voucher from your high school on the day you
are testing. (Note: High school students from the following counties are permitted
to test for Dual Enrollment purposes: Bay, Franklin and Gulf).

Calculators are not allowed. Pencils, erasers and scrap paper will be provided by
the Gulf Coast State College Testing Center. The only items permitted in the testing
room are your car keys and photo ID.

Although the CPT/PERT is untimed, allow yourself at least 2 1/2 to 3 hours to complete
the three sub-tests (reading, writing and math). You must complete the test the same
day you begin testing, otherwise the test could be voided or scored based on the number
of questions that were answered. You will also have to pay the $5.00 testing fee again
to retest.

If you have further questions about the CPT/PERT, contact Kara Hillard at khillard@gulfcoast.edu or 850-873-3533 (email preferred).

The Gulf Coast State College Testing Center is located on the 3rd floor of the Student
Union West Building (View Campus Map). Sign in on the computer in the 3rd floor stairwell and then come to the seating
area closest to room 311 and wait for your name to be called.

The CPT/PERT is given on the dates listed below on a walk-in basis in the order of your arrival. You may check-in for the CPT/PERT during the check-in
times listed. You then will have until the Gulf Coast State College Testing Center's
closing time (Monday–Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, 3:30 p.m.) to complete your exam.

You must complete PERT test the same day you begin testing, otherwise the test could
be voided or scored based on the number of questions that were answered. You will
also have to pay the $5 testing fee again to retest.

Dates and check-in times are subject to change. For updated dates and check-in times,
please call 850-769-1551 ext. 2899.

ACT OR SAT SCORES FOR PLACEMENT

If you present scores from either the American College Testing Program's ACT or the
College Board's SAT exam that meet or exceed the scores shown below, you may be exempted
from taking the Florida College Entry-Level Placement Test.

Gulf Coast State College requires official scores. Individual student scores are valid
for two years. All ACT or SAT scores received on an official high school or college
transcript will be accepted. Scores may be sent to: